Method and system for capturing a note-taking session using sensor with identifier

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a system and method capturing, in a computer system, data relating to a note-taking session, the session consisting of handwritten annotations made by a user by way of a writing implement on a plurality of pages.  
     Specifically, the method includes the steps of receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement, an indication of the start of the note-taking session, receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement, data indicative of said handwritten annotations made by said user on said plurality of pages, receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement, an indication of the end of the note-taking session, and retaining a retrievable record of the received data for the note-taking session. Control for the note-taking session (eg. starting, ending and printing a session) takes place by way of printed command buttons for designation by the writing implement, which buttons may be printed on each page, or on a part of a backing sheet of a notepad of pages extending beyond the periphery of the pages themselves.  
     The system and method of the invention are suitable for use in an educational environment or a meeting environment. For example, participants in a meeting can collaboratively mark up the physical pages of a whiteboard pad, and at the end of the meeting can print out a reduced-size version of those marked pages, conveniently bound and timestamped.

CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS

[0001] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the presentinvention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filedby the applicant or assignee of the present invention simultaneouslywith the present invention: NPA060US, NPA061US, NPA081US, NPA082US,NPP010US, NPP013US, NPP015US, NPP020US, NPP021US, NPP022US, NPP023US,NPS014US, NPS015US, NPS017US, NPS018US, NPS022US, NPS027US NPS028US,NPT008US, BIN01US, BIN02US, BIN03US, BIN04US

[0002] The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporatedherein by cross-reference. Each application is temporarily identified byits docket number. This will be replaced by the corresponding USSN whenavailable.

[0003] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the presentinvention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filedby the applicant or assignee of the present invention on Oct. 20, 2000:NPA011US, NPA031US, NPA040US, NPA046US, NPA053US, NPA059US, NPA064US,NPB006US, NPS004US, NPS008US, NPS013US, NPS024US, NPPC1, UP01US, UP02US,UP03US, UP04US, UP05US

[0004] The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporatedherein by cross-reference. Each application is temporarily identified byits docket number. This will be replaced by the corresponding USSN whenavailable.

[0005] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the presentinvention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filedby the applicant or assignee of the present invention on Sep. 15, 2000:NPA024US, NPA025US, NPA047US, NPA049US

[0006] The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporatedherein by cross-reference. Each application is temporarily identified byits docket number. This will be replaced by the corresponding USSN whenavailable.

[0007] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the presentinvention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filedby the applicant or assignee of the present invention on Jun. 30, 2000:NPA014US, NPA015US, NPA022US, NPA026US, NPA038US, NPA041US, NPA050US,NPA051US, NPA052US, NPA063US, NPA065US, NPA067US, NPA068US, NPA069US,NPA071US, NPA072US, NPB003US, NPB004US, NPB005US, NPP019US, PEC04US,PEC05US, PEC06US, PEC07US

[0008] The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporatedherein by cross-reference. Each application is temporarily identified byits docket number. This will be replaced by the corresponding USSN whenavailable.

[0009] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the presentinvention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications filedby the applicant or assignee of the present invention on May 23, 2000:NPA001US, NPA002US, NPA004US, NPA005US, NPA006US, NPA007US, NPA008US,NPA009US, NPA010US, NPA012US, NPA016US, NPA017US, NPA018US, NPA019US,NPA020US, NPA021US, NPA030US, NPA035US, NPA048US, NPA075US, NPB001US,NPB002US, NPK002US, NPK003US, NPK004US, NPK005US, NPM001US, NPM002US,NPM003US, NPM004US, NPN001US, NPP001US, NPP003US, NPP005US, NPP006US,NPP007US, NPP008US, NPP016US, NPP017US, NPP018US, NPS001US, NPS003US,NPS020US, NPT001US, NPT002US, NPT003US, NPT004US, NPX001US, NPX003US,NPX008US, NPX011US, NPX014US, NPX016US, IJ52US, IJM52US, MJ10US, MJ11US,MJ12US, MJ13US, MJ14US, MJ15US, MJ34US, MJ47US, MJ58US, MJ62US, MJ63US,PAK04US, PAK05US, PAK06US, PAK07US, PAK08US, PEC01US, PEC02US, PEC03US

[0010] The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporatedherein by cross-reference. Each application is temporarily identified byits docket number. This will be replaced by the corresponding USSN whenavailable.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0011] The present invention relates generally to computing systems and,more particularly, to a method and system for capturing, in a computersystem, data relating to a note-taking session. The system and method ofthe invention are suitable for use in, for example, an educationalenvironment or a meeting environment.

BACKGROUND

[0012] Remote whiteboard computer systems are already established. Suchinteractive systems allow participants in mutually disparategeographical locations to participate in a collaborative activity inreal time. Generally each participant has access to a computer meansthat is networked with the computers of the other participants. Adisplay device accessible to each participant acts as a ‘virtualwhiteboard’, allowing the participants to submit and receive drawingsand alternative graphical or other information. Each participant mayhave a copy of a common drawing on his or her virtual whiteboard, andcan edit or otherwise amend that drawing, such ‘markups’ beingimmediately transmitted to the other participants to maintain in aconsistent state the common drawing.

[0013] Additionally, conventional whiteboards are also commonly used ineducational environments, to facilitate the transfer of information fromteacher to student, and in group discussions such as business meetings,where ideas need to be communicated between participants. The whiteboardprovides a convenient surface on which concepts can be graphicallyexpressed, by way of notes, drawings, charts, etc. Such notations can bemade in selected colors and can be readily erased from the smooth,wipeable surface.

[0014] Electronic whiteboards which have been developed allowrepresentations of notations made upon a specially designed whiteboardto be transmitted to a computer for storage, display, transmission,printing, etc. During a meeting session, graphical user input entered onthe electronic whiteboard is digitized and stored in a file, anddedicated whiteboard application software enables retrieval andmanipulation. At any time, stored session files may be retrieved to viewor print the information, or to copy it to other applications ifrequired. To this end, the whiteboard surface generally includes awriting/drawing region, and a control region providing means forinputting control commands via the whiteboard.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0015] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a newmethod and system for capturing, in a computer system, data relating toa note-taking session.

[0016] The present invention provides, in a first aspect, a method ofcapturing, in a computer system, data relating to a note-taking session,the session consisting of handwritten annotations made by a user by wayof a writing implement on a plurality of pages, the method including thesteps of:

[0017] receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement,an indication of the start of the note-taking session;

[0018] receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement,data indicative of said handwritten annotations made by said user onsaid plurality of pages;

[0019] receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement,an indication of the end of the note-taking session; and

[0020] retaining a retrievable record of the received data for thenote-taking session.

[0021] According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provideda system for capturing data relating to a note-taking session, thesession consisting of handwritten annotations made by a user by way of awriting implement on a plurality of pages, the system including:

[0022] a computer system for receiving indicating data via the writingimplement operated by the user, said indicating data regarding theposition of the writing implement relative to a page, the computersystem including (a) means for identifying, from the indicating data, anindication of the start of the note-taking session and an indication ofthe end of the note-taking session; and (b) storage means for retaininga retrievable record of the received data for the note-taking session,said retrievable record being indicative of said handwritten annotationsmade by said user on said plurality of pages between the start and endof the note-taking session.

[0023] Accordingly, the present invention provides a system and a methodwhich utilizes one or more forms capable of interacting with a computersystem. Whilst the novel method and system of the present invention maybe used in conjunction with a single computer system, it is also readilyadapted to operate by means of a computer network, such as the Internet.

[0024] Physically, the form is disposed on a surface medium of anysuitable structure. However, in a preferred arrangement, the form isdisposed on sheet material such as paper or the like which has the codeddata printed on it and which allows interaction with the computersystem. The coded data is detectable preferably, but not exclusively,outside the visible spectrum, thereby enabling it to be machine-readablebut substantially invisible to the human eye. The form may also includevisible material which provides information to a user, such as theapplication or purpose of the form, and which visible information may beregistered or correlate in position with the relevant hidden coded data.

[0025] The system also includes a sensing device to convey data from theform to the computer system, and in some instances, to contributeadditional data. Again, the sensing device may take a variety of formsbut is preferably compact and easily portable. In a particularlypreferred arrangement, the sensing device is configured as a pen whichis designed to be able to physically mark the interactive form as wellas to selectively enable the coded data from the form to be read andtransmitted to the computer system. The coded data then provides controlinformation, configured such that designation thereof by a user causesinstructions to be applied to the software running on the computersystem or network.

[0026] The nature of the interaction between the form and the sensingdevice and the data that each contributes to the computer system mayvary. In one arrangement, the coded data on the form is indicative ofthe identity of the form and of at least one reference point on thatform. In another embodiment, the interactive form includes coded datawhich is indicative of a parameter of the form, whereas the sensingdevice is operative to provide data regarding its own movement relativeto that form to the computer system together with coded data from theform. In yet another arrangement, the form includes the coded data whichat least identifies the form, and the sensing device is designed toprovide, to the computer system, data based on the form coded data, andalso on data which identifies the user of the device.

[0027] The system and method employs specially designed printers toprint the interactive form. Further these printers constitute or formpart of the computer system and are designed to receive data from thesensing device. As indicated above, the system and method of theinvention is ideally suited to operate over a network. In thisarrangement, the printers are fully integrated into the network andallow for printing of the interactive forms on demand and also fordistributing of the forms using a mixture of multi-cast and point-castcommunication protocols.

[0028] Accordingly, in a preferred form, the present invention providesmethods and systems which use a paper and pen based interface for acomputer system. This provides many significant benefits overtraditional computer systems. The advantage of paper is that it iswidely used to display and record information. Further, printedinformation is easier to read than information displayed on a computerscreen. Moreover, paper does not run on batteries, can be read in brightlight, or robustly accepts coffee spills or the like and is portable anddisposable. Furthermore, the system allows for hand-drawing andhand-writing to be captured which affords greater richness of expressionthan input via a computer keyboard and mouse.

[0029] The present invention therefore provides a method and system forcapturing, in a computer system, data relating to a note-taking session,making use of novel interactive surface media. It is to be understood inthis specification and claims that the term ‘note-taking session’ refersto any session during which pages are annotated for presentationpurposes. In particular, in carrying out the method of the invention, anotepad, (or ‘whiteboard pad’), is employed to convey information.

[0030] Using the invention, participants can communicate graphical ideason a whiteboard or similar, using interactive surface media. Thewhiteboard can take the form of a pad of large-format pre-printed pagessupported for easy viewing on an easel. Multiple colored pens can beused during a whiteboard session, and the colors used can be reproducedon subsequently printed versions of the pages of a whiteboard session.

[0031] Each printed version of page can be timestamped and marked withthe name of the author, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Preferred and other embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

[0033]FIG. 1 is a schematic of a the relationship between a sampleprinted netpage and its online page description;

[0034]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a interaction between a netpage pen,a netpage printer, a netpage page server, and a netpage applicationserver;

[0035]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a high-level structure of a printednetpage and its online page description;

[0036]FIG. 4a is a plan view showing a structure of a netpage tag;

[0037]FIG. 4b is a plan view showing a relationship between a set of thetags shown in FIG. 4a and a field of view of a netpage sensing device inthe form of a netpage pen;

[0038]FIG. 5a is a plan view showing an alternative structure of anetpage tag;

[0039]FIG. 5b is a plan view showing a relationship between a set of thetags shown in FIG. 5a and a field of view of a netpage sensing device inthe form of a netpage pen;

[0040]FIG. 5c is a plan view showing an arrangement of nine of the tagsshown in FIG. 5a where targets are shared between adjacent tags;

[0041]FIG. 5d is a plan view showing the interleaving and rotation ofthe symbols of the four codewords of the tag shown in FIG. 5a;

[0042]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a set of user interface flowdocument icons;

[0043]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a set of user interface page layoutelement icons;

[0044]FIG. 8 is a class diagram representing a conferencing systemaccording to the invention;

[0045]FIG. 9 is an access type class diagram;

[0046]FIG. 10 illustrates the conferencing whiteboard page versionnumbering system;

[0047]FIG. 11 illustrates the conference session menu user interfaceflow;

[0048]FIG. 12 illustrates the conference session list user interfaceflow;

[0049]FIG. 13 illustrates the book conference session user interfaceflow;

[0050]FIG. 14 illustrates the user interface flow for a whiteboard page;

[0051]FIG. 15 presents an overall illustration of the user interfaceflow for a conference session;

[0052]FIG. 16 shows the book a conference session page;

[0053]FIG. 17 shows the conference session control page;

[0054]FIG. 18 shows the session main page;

[0055]FIG. 19 shows a printed blank whiteboard page;

[0056]FIG. 20 shows the conference session end notice;

[0057]FIG. 21 shows the compose message page;

[0058]FIG. 22 is a class diagram representing a whiteboard pad andsession;

[0059]FIG. 23 illustrates a whiteboard pad session user interface flow;

[0060]FIG. 24 shows a whiteboard pad page; and

[0061]FIG. 25 shows a whiteboard session page.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0062] Note: Memjet™ is a trademark of Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd,Australia.

[0063] In the preferred embodiment, the invention is configured to workwith the netpage networked computer system, a summary of which is givenbelow and a detailed description of which is given in our earlierapplications, including in particular applications U.S. Ser. No.09/______ (docket no. NPT002US), U.S. Ser. No. 09/______ (docket no.NPS001US), U.S. Ser. No. 09/______ (docket no. NPP003US), U.S. Ser. No.09/______ (docket no. NPA002US) and U.S. Ser. No. 09/______ (docket no.IJ52US). It will be appreciated that not every implementation willnecessarily embody all or even most of the specific details andextensions described in these applications in relation to the basicsystem. However, the system is described in its most complete form toassist in understanding the context in which the preferred embodimentsand aspects of the present invention operate.

[0064] In brief summary, the preferred form of the netpage systememploys a computer interface in the form of a mapped surface, that is, aphysical surface which contains references to a map of the surfacemaintained in a computer system. The map references can be queried by anappropriate sensing device. Depending upon the specific implementation,the map references may be encoded visibly or invisibly, and defined insuch a way that a local query on the mapped surface yields anunambiguous map reference both within the map and among different maps.The computer system can contain information about features on the mappedsurface, and such information can be retrieved based on map referencessupplied by a sensing device used with the mapped surface. Theinformation thus retrieved can take the form of actions which areinitiated by the computer system on behalf of the operator in responseto the operator's interaction with the surface features.

[0065] In its preferred form, the netpage system relies on theproduction of, and human interaction with, netpages. These are pages oftext, graphics and images printed on ordinary paper or other media, butwhich work like interactive web pages. Information is encoded on eachpage using ink which is substantially invisible to the unaided humaneye. The ink, however, and thereby the coded data, can be sensed by anoptically imaging pen and transmitted to the netpage system.

[0066] In the preferred form, active buttons and hyperlinks on each pagecan be clicked with the pen to request information from the network orto signal preferences to a network server. In one embodiment, textwritten by hand on a netpage is automatically recognized and convertedto computer text in the netpage system, allowing forms to be filled in.In other embodiments, signatures recorded on a netpage are automaticallyverified, allowing e-commerce transactions to be securely authorized.

[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a printed netpage 1 can represent ainteractive form which can be filled in by the user both physically, onthe printed page, and “electronically”, via communication between thepen and the netpage system. The example shows a “Request” formcontaining name and address fields and a submit button. The netpageconsists of graphic data 2 printed using visible ink, and coded data 3printed as a collection of tags 4 using invisible ink. The correspondingpage description 5, stored on the netpage network, describes theindividual elements of the netpage. In particular it describes the typeand spatial extent (zone) of each interactive element (i.e. text fieldor button in the example), to allow the netpage system to correctlyinterpret input via the netpage. The submit button 6, for example, has azone 7 which corresponds to the spatial extent of the correspondinggraphic 8.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the netpage pen 101, a preferred formof which is described in our earlier application U.S. Ser. No. 09/______(docket no. NP001US), works in conjunction with a netpage printer 601,an Internet-connected printing appliance for home, office or mobile use.The pen is wireless and communicates securely with the netpage printervia a short-range radio link 9.

[0069] The netpage printer 601, preferred forms of which are describedin our earlier application U.S. Ser. No. 09/______ (docket no. NPP003US)and our co-filed application U.S. Ser. No. 09/______ (docket no.NPS024US), is able to deliver, periodically or on demand, personalizednewspapers, magazines, catalogs, brochures and other publications, allprinted at high quality as interactive netpages. Unlike a personalcomputer, the netpage printer is an appliance which can be, for example,wall-mounted adjacent to an area where the morning news is firstconsumed, such as in a user's kitchen, near a breakfast table, or nearthe household's point of departure for the day. It also comes intabletop, desktop, portable and miniature versions.

[0070] Netpages printed at their point of consumption combine theease-of-use of paper with the timeliness and interactivity of aninteractive medium.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 2, the netpage pen 101 interacts with the codeddata on a printed netpage 1 and communicates, via a short-range radiolink 9, the interaction to a netpage printer. The printer 601 sends theinteraction to the relevant netpage page server 10 for interpretation.In appropriate circumstances, the page server sends a correspondingmessage to application computer software running on a netpageapplication server 13. The application server may in turn send aresponse which is printed on the originating printer.

[0072] The netpage system is made considerably more convenient in thepreferred embodiment by being used in conjunction with high-speedmicroelectromechanical system (MEMS) based inkjet (Memjet™) printers,for example as described in our earlier application U.S. Ser. No.09/______ (docket no. IJ52US). In the preferred form of this technology,relatively high-speed and high-quality printing is made more affordableto consumers. In its preferred form, a netpage publication has thephysical characteristics of a traditional newsmagazine, such as a set ofletter-size glossy pages printed in full color on both sides, boundtogether for easy navigation and comfortable handling.

[0073] The netpage printer exploits the growing availability ofbroadband Internet access. The netpage printer can also operate withslower connections, but with longer delivery times and lower imagequality. The netpage system can also be enabled using existing consumerinkjet and laser printers, although the system will operate more slowlyand will therefore be less acceptable from a consumer's point of view.In other embodiments, the netpage system is hosted on a privateintranet. In still other embodiments, the netpage system is hosted on asingle computer or computer-enabled device, such as a printer.

[0074] Netpage publication servers 14 on the netpage network areconfigured to deliver print-quality publications to netpage printers.Periodical publications are delivered automatically to subscribingnetpage printers via pointcasting and multicasting Internet protocols.Personalized publications are filtered and formatted according toindividual user profiles.

[0075] A netpage printer can be configured to support any number ofpens, and a pen can work with any number of netpage printers. In thepreferred implementation, each netpage pen has a unique identifier. Ahousehold may have a collection of colored netpage pens, one assigned toeach member of the family. This allows each user to maintain a distinctprofile with respect to a netpage publication server or applicationserver.

[0076] A netpage pen can also be registered with a netpage registrationserver 11 and linked to one or more payment card accounts. This allowse-commerce payments to be securely authorized using the netpage pen. Thenetpage registration server compares the signature captured by thenetpage pen with a previously registered signature, allowing it toauthenticate the user's identity to an e-commerce server. Otherbiometrics can also be used to verify identity. A version of the netpagepen includes fingerprint scanning, verified in a similar way by thenetpage registration server.

[0077] Although a netpage printer may deliver periodicals such as themorning newspaper without user intervention, it can be configured neverto deliver unsolicited junk mail. In its preferred form, it onlydelivers periodicals from subscribed or otherwise authorized sources. Inthis respect, the netpage printer is unlike a fax machine or e-mailaccount which is visible to any junk mailer who knows the telephonenumber or e-mail address.

[0078] Each object model in the system is described using a UnifiedModeling Language (UML) class diagram. A class diagram consists of a setof object classes connected by relationships, and two kinds ofrelationships are of interest here: associations and generalizations. Anassociation represents some kind of relationship between objects, i.e.between instances of classes. A generalization relates actual classes,and can be understood in the following way: if a class is thought of asthe set of all objects of that class, and class A is a generalization ofclass B, then B is simply a subset of A. Each class is drawn as arectangle labelled with the name of the class. It contains a list of theattributes of the class, separated from the name by a horizontal line,and a list of the operations of the class, separated from the attributelist by a horizontal line. In the class diagrams which follow, however,operations are never modelled. An association is drawn as a line joiningtwo classes, optionally labelled at either end with the multiplicity ofthe association. The default multiplicity is one. An asterisk (*)indicates a multiplicity of “many”, i.e. zero or more. Each associationis optionally labelled with its name, and is also optionally labelled ateither end with the role of the corresponding class. An open diamondindicates an aggregation association (“is-part-of”), and is drawn at theaggregator end of the association line. A generalization relationship(“is-a”) is drawn as a solid line joining two classes, with an arrow (inthe form of an open triangle) at the generalization end. When a classdiagram is broken up into multiple diagrams, any class which isduplicated is shown with a dashed outline in all but the main diagramwhich defines it. It is shown with attributes only where it is defined.

[0079] Netpages are the foundation on which a netpage network is built.They provide a paper-based user interface to published information andinteractive services. A netpage consists of a printed page (or othersurface region) invisibly tagged with references to an onlinedescription of the page. The online page description is maintainedpersistently by a netpage page server. The page description describesthe visible layout and content of the page, including text, graphics andimages. It also describes the input elements on the page, includingbuttons, hyperlinks, and input fields. A netpage allows markings madewith a netpage pen on its surface to be simultaneously captured andprocessed by the netpage system.

[0080] Multiple netpages can share the same page description. However,to allow input through otherwise identical pages to be distinguished,each netpage is assigned a unique page identifier. This page ID hassufficient precision to distinguish between a very large number ofnetpages.

[0081] Each reference to the page description is encoded in a printedtag. The tag identifies the unique page on which it appears, and therebyindirectly identifies the page description. The tag also identifies itsown position on the page. Characteristics of the tags are described inmore detail below.

[0082] Tags are printed in infrared-absorptive ink on any substratewhich is infrared-reflective, such as ordinary paper. Near-infraredwavelengths are invisible to the human eye but are easily sensed by asolid-state image sensor with an appropriate filter.

[0083] A tag is sensed by an area image sensor in the netpage pen, andthe tag data is transmitted to the netpage system via the nearestnetpage printer. The pen is wireless and communicates with the netpageprinter via a short-range radio link. Tags are sufficiently small anddensely arranged that the pen can reliably image at least one tag evenon a single click on the page. It is important that the pen recognizethe page ID and position on every interaction with the page, since theinteraction is stateless. Tags are error-correctably encoded to makethem partially tolerant to surface damage.

[0084] The netpage page server maintains a unique page instance for eachprinted netpage, allowing it to maintain a distinct set of user-suppliedvalues for input fields in the page description for each printednetpage.

[0085] The relationship between the page description, the page instance,and the printed netpage is shown in FIG. 3. The printed netpage may bepart of a printed netpage document 45. The page instance is associatedwith both the netpage printer which printed it and, if known, thenetpage user who requested it.

[0086] In a preferred form, each tag identifies the region in which itappears, and the location of that tag within the region. A tag may alsocontain flags which relate to the region as a whole or to the tag. Oneor more flag bits may, for example, signal a tag sensing device toprovide feedback indicative of a function associated with the immediatearea of the tag, without the sensing device having to refer to adescription of the region. A netpage pen may, for example, illuminate an“active area” LED when in the zone of a hyperlink.

[0087] In a preferred embodiment, each tag contains an easily recognizedinvariant structure which aids initial detection, and which assists inminimizing the effect of any warp induced by the surface or by thesensing process. The tags preferably tile the entire page, and aresufficiently small and densely arranged that the pen can reliably imageat least one tag even on a single click on the page. It is importantthat the pen recognize the page ID and position on every interactionwith the page, since the interaction is stateless.

[0088] In a preferred embodiment, the region to which a tag referscoincides with an entire page, and the region ID encoded in the tag istherefore synonymous with the page ID of the page on which the tagappears. In other embodiments, the region to which a tag refers can bean arbitrary subregion of a page or other surface. For example, it cancoincide with the zone of an interactive element, in which case theregion ID can directly identify the interactive element.

[0089] Each tag contains typically contains 16 bits of tag ID, at least90 bits of region ID, and a number of flag bits. Assuming a maximum tagdensity of 64 per square inch, a 16-bit tag ID supports a region size ofup to 1024 square inches. Larger regions can be mapped continuouslywithout increasing the tag ID precision simply by using abutting regionsand maps. The distinction between a region ID and a tag ID is mostly oneof convenience. For most purposes the concatenation of the two can beconsidered as a globally unique tag ID. Conversely, it may also beconvenient to introduce structure into the tag ID, for example to definethe x and y coordinates of the tag. A 90-bit region ID allows 2⁹⁰ (˜10²⁷or a thousand trillion trillion) different regions to be uniquelyidentified. Tags may also contain type information, and a region may betagged with a mixture of tag types. For example, a region may be taggedwith one set of tags encoding x coordinates and another set, interleavedwith the first, encoding y coordinates.

[0090] In one embodiment, 120 bits of tag data are redundantly encodedusing a (15, 5) Reed-Solomon code. This yields 360 encoded bitsconsisting of 6 codewords of 15 4-bit symbols each. The (15, 5) codeallows up to 5 symbol errors to be corrected per codeword, i.e. it istolerant of a symbol error rate of up to 33% per codeword. Each 4-bitsymbol is represented in a spatially coherent way in the tag, and thesymbols of the six codewords are interleaved spatially within the tag.This ensures that a burst error (an error affecting multiple spatiallyadjacent bits) damages a minimum number of symbols overall and a minimumnumber of symbols in any one codeword, thus maximising the likelihoodthat the burst error can be fully corrected.

[0091] Any suitable error-correcting code code can be used in place of a(15, 5) Reed-Solomon code, for example a Reed-Solomon code with more orless redundancy, with the same or different symbol and codeword sizes;another block code; or a different kind of code, such as a convolutionalcode (see, for example, Stephen B. Wicker, Error Control Systems forDigital Communication and Storage, Prentice-Hall 1995, the contents ofwhich a herein incorporated by cross-reference).

[0092] One embodiment of the physical representation of the tag, shownin FIG. 4a and described in our earlier application U.S. Ser. No.09/______ (docket no. NPT002US), includes fixed target structures 15,16, 17 and variable data areas 18. The fixed target structures allow asensing device such as the netpage pen to detect the tag and infer itsthree-dimensional orientation relative to the sensor. The data areascontain representations of the individual bits of the encoded tag data.To maximise its size, each data bit is represented by a radial wedge inthe form of an area bounded by two radial lines and two concentriccircular arcs. Each wedge has a minimum dimension of 8 dots at 1600 dpiand is designed so that its base (its inner arc), is at least equal tothis minimum dimension. The height of the wedge in the radial directionis always equal to the minimum dimension. Each 4-bit data symbol isrepresented by an array of 2×2 wedges. The fifteen 4-bit data symbols ofeach of the six codewords are allocated to the four concentric symbolrings 18 a to 18 d in interleaved fashion. Symbols are allocatedalternately in circular progression around the tag. The interleaving isdesigned to maximise the average spatial distance between any twosymbols of the same codeword.

[0093] In order to support “single-click” interaction with a taggedregion via a sensing device, the sensing device must be able to see atleast one entire tag in its field of view no matter where in the regionor at what orientation it is positioned. The required diameter of thefield of view of the sensing device is therefore a function of the sizeand spacing of the tags. Assuming a circular tag shape, the minimumdiameter of the sensor field of view 193 is obtained when the tags aretiled on a equilateral triangular grid, as shown in FIG. 4b.

[0094] The tag structure just described is designed to allow bothregular tilings of planar surfaces and irregular tilings of non-planarsurfaces. Regular tilings are not, in general, possible on non-planarsurfaces. In the more usual case of planar surfaces where regulartilings of tags are possible, i.e. surfaces such as sheets of paper andthe like, more efficient tag structures can be used which exploit theregular nature of the tiling.

[0095] An alternative tag structure more suited to a regular tiling isshown in FIG. 5a. The tag 4 is square and has four perspective targets17. It is similar in structure to tags described by Bennett et al. inU.S. Pat. No. 5,051,746. The tag represents sixty 4-bit Reed-Solomonsymbols 47, for a total of 240 bits. The tag represents each one bit asa dot 48, and each zero bit by the absence of the corresponding dot. Theperspective targets are designed to be shared between adjacent tags, asshown in FIGS. 5b and 5 c. FIG. 5b shows a square tiling of 16 tags andthe corresponding minimum field of view 193, which must span thediagonals of two tags. FIG. 5c shows a square tiling of nine tags,containing all one bits for illustration purposes.

[0096] Using a (15, 7) Reed-Solomon code, 112 bits of tag data areredundantly encoded to produce 240 encoded bits. The four codewords areinterleaved spatially within the tag to maximize resilience to bursterrors. Assuming a 16-bit tag ID as before, this allows a region ID ofup to 92 bits. The data-bearing dots 48 of the tag are designed to notoverlap their neighbors, so that groups of tags cannot producestructures which resemble targets. This also saves ink. The perspectivetargets therefore allow detection of the tag, so further targets are notrequired.

[0097] Although the tag may contain an orientation feature to allowdisambiguation of the four possible orientations of the tag relative tothe sensor, it is also possible to embed orientation data in the tagdata. For example, the four codewords can be arranged so that each tagorientation contains one codeword placed at that orientation, as shownin FIG. 5d, where each symbol is labelled with the number of itscodeword (1-4) and the position of the symbol within the codeword (A-O).Tag decoding then consists of decoding one codeword at each orientation.Each codeword can either contain a single bit indicating whether it isthe first codeword, or two bits indicating which codeword it is. Thelatter approach has the advantage that if, say, the data content of onlyone codeword is required, then at most two codewords need to be decodedto obtain the desired data. This may be the case if the region ID is notexpected to change within a stroke and is thus only decoded at the startof a stroke. Within a stroke only the codeword containing the tag ID isthen desired. Furthermore, since the rotation of the sensing devicechanges slowly and predictably within a stroke, only one codewordtypically needs to be decoded per frame.

[0098] It is possible to dispense with perspective targets altogetherand instead rely on the data representation being self-registering. Inthis case each bit value (or multi-bit value) is typically representedby an explicit glyph, i.e. no bit value is represented by the absence ofa glyph. This ensures that the data grid is well-populated, and thusallows the grid to be reliably identified and its perspective distortiondetected and subsequently corrected during data sampling. To allow tagboundaries to be detected, each tag data must contain a marker pattern,and these must be redundantly encoded to allow reliable detection. Theoverhead of such marker patterns is similar to the overhead of explicitperspective targets. One such scheme uses dots positioned a variouspoints relative to grid vertices to represent different glyphs and hencedifferent multi-bit values (see Anoto Technology Description, AnotoApril 2000).

[0099] Decoding a tag results in a region ID, a tag ID, and atag-relative pen transform. Before the tag ID and the tag-relative penlocation can be translated into an absolute location within the taggedregion, the location of the tag within the region must be known. This isgiven by a tag map, a function which maps each tag ID in a tagged regionto a corresponding location. A tag map reflects the scheme used to tilethe surface region with tags, and this can vary according to surfacetype. When multiple tagged regions share the same tiling scheme and thesame tag numbering scheme, they can also share the same tag map. The tagmap for a region must be retrievable via the region ID. Thus, given aregion ID, a tag ID and a pen transform, the tag map can be retrieved,the tag ID can be translated into an absolute tag location within theregion, and the tag-relative pen location can be added to the taglocation to yield an absolute pen location within the region.

[0100] The tag ID may have a structure which assists translation throughthe tag map. It may, for example, encoded Cartesian coordinates or polarcoordinates, depending on the surface type on which it appears. The tagID structure is dictated by and known to the tag map, and tag IDsassociated with different tag maps may therefore have differentstructures.

[0101] Two distinct surface coding schemes are of interest, both ofwhich use the tag structure described earlier in this section. Thepreferred coding scheme uses “location-indicating” tags as alreadydiscussed. An alternative coding scheme uses “object-indicating” (or“function-indicating”) tags.

[0102] A location-indicating tag contains a tag ID which, whentranslated through the tag map associated with the tagged region, yieldsa unique tag location within the region. The tag-relative location ofthe pen is added to this tag location to yield the location of the penwithin the region. This in turn is used to determine the location of thepen relative to a user interface element in the page descriptionassociated with the region. Not only is the user interface elementitself identified, but a location relative to the user interface elementis identified. Location-indicating tags therefore trivially support thecapture of an absolute pen path in the zone of a particular userinterface element.

[0103] An object-indicating (or function-indicating) tag contains a tagID which directly identifies a user interface element in the pagedescription associated with the region (or equivalently, a function).All the tags in the zone of the user interface element identify the userinterface element, making them all identical and thereforeindistinguishable. Object-indicating tags do not, therefore, support thecapture of an absolute pen path. They do, however, support the captureof a relative pen path. So long as the position sampling frequencyexceeds twice the encountered tag frequency, the displacement from onesampled pen position to the next within a stroke can be unambiguouslydetermined. As an alternative, the netpage pen 101 can contain a pair ormotion-sensing accelerometers, as described in our earlier applicationU.S. Ser. No. 09/______ (docket no. NPS001US).

[0104] With either tagging scheme, the tags function in cooperation withassociated visual elements on the netpage as user interactive elementsin that a user can interact with the printed page using an appropriatesensing device in order for tag data to be read by the sensing deviceand for an appropriate response to be generated in the netpage system.

[0105] Each application user interface flow is illustrated as acollection of documents linked by command arrows. A command arrowindicates that the target document is printed as a result of the userpressing the corresponding command button on the source page. Somecommand arrows are labelled with multiple commands separated by slashes(‘/’s), indicating that any one of the specified commands causes thetarget document to be printed. Although multiple commands may label thesame command arrow, they typically have different side-effects.

[0106] In application terms, it is important to distinguish betweennetpage documents and netpage forms. Documents contain printedinformation, as well as command buttons which can be pressed by the userto request further information or some other action. Forms, in additionto behaving like normal documents, also contain input fields which canbe filled in by the user. They provide the system with a data inputmechanism. It is also useful to distinguish between documents whichcontain generic information and documents which contain informationspecific to a particular interaction between the user and anapplication. Generic documents may be pre-printed publications such asmagazines sold at news stands or advertising posters encountered inpublic places. Forms may also be pre-printed, including, for example,subscription forms encountered in pre-printed publications. They may, ofcourse, also be generated on-the-fly by a netpage printer in response touser requests. User-specific documents and forms are normally generatedon the fly by a netpage printer in response to user requests. FIG. 6shows a generic document 990, a generic form 991, a user-specificdocument 992, and a user-specific form 993.

[0107] Netpages which participate in a user interface flow are furtherdescribed by abstract page layouts. A page layout may contain variouskinds of elements, each of which has a unique style to differentiate itfrom the others. As shown in FIG. 7, these include fixed information994, variable information 995, input fields 996, command buttons 997,draggable commands 998, and text hyperlinks or hypertext links 999.

[0108] When a user interface flow is broken up into multiple diagrams,any document which is duplicated is shown with dashed outlines in allbut the main diagram which defines it.

[0109] Remote Conferencing using the Netpage System

[0110] The netpage system, then, provides the facility for enablingremote conferencing, allowing geographically distributed participants tocommunicate graphical ideas via a shared whiteboard while engaged in atelephone conference or similar. Every time a participant adds amodification or a new piece of graphical information to the whiteboardthe other participants are provided with an updated copy of the page.Each netpage or netpage document used during a conference session, suchas a Conference Session Control Page (see below) or a version of awhiteboard which a participant is marking up, is a physicalrepresentation of what is referred to herein as a “conferencing form”,containing the interactive objects (hyperlinks and form fields).

[0111] New whiteboard pages can be started at any time, but older pagesor older versions of pages can still be marked up and re-distributed.Each participant ends up with a full history of the interaction.

[0112] Application Drawing Notation

[0113] Each application user interface flow is illustrated as acollection of documents linked by command arrows. A command arrowindicates that the target document is printed as a result of the userpressing the corresponding command button on the source page. Somecommand arrows are labelled with multiple commands separated by slashes(‘/’s), indicating that any one of the specified commands causes thetarget document to be printed. Although multiple commands may label thesame command arrow, they typically have different side-effects.

[0114] In application terms, it is important to distinguish betweennetpage documents and netpage forms. Documents contain printedinformation, as well as command buttons which can be pressed by the userto request further information or some other action. Forms, in additionto behaving like normal documents, also contain input fields which canbe filled in by the user. They provide the system with a data inputmechanism. It is also useful to distinguish between documents whichcontain generic information and documents which contain informationspecific to a particular interaction between the user and anapplication. Generic documents may be pre-printed publications such asmagazines sold at news stands or advertising posters encountered inpublic places. Forms may also be pre-printed, including, for example,subscription forms encountered in pre-printed publications. They may, ofcourse, also be generated on-the-fly by a netpage printer in response touser requests. User-specific documents and forms are normally generatedon the fly by a netpage printer in response to user requests. FIG. 44shows a generic document 990, a generic form 991, a user-specificdocument 992, and a user-specific form 993.

[0115] Netpages which participate in a user interface flow are furtherdescribed by abstract page layouts. A page layout may contain variouskinds of elements, each of which has a unique style to differentiate itfrom the others. As shown in FIG. 45, these include fixed information994, variable information 995, input fields 996, command buttons 997,draggable commands 998, and text hyperlinks or hypertext links 999.

[0116] When a user interface flow is broken up into multiple diagrams,any document which is duplicated is shown with dashed outlines in allbut the main diagram which defines it.

[0117] Conferencing Object Model

[0118] The conferencing object model revolves around a conferencesession, a set of versioned whiteboard pages, and session participants.The conferencing class diagram is shown in FIG. 8.

[0119] Each conference participant 502 is a netpage user 800, and has anaccess type 505 for a session, controlling the functions to which theyhave access. The access type specifies, for example, whether aparticipant is merely an observer, or whether he/she is permitted tomake page markups, send messages, etc. The possible access types arechairperson 509, organizer 510, author 511, markup allowed 512 andobserver 513. The Access Type class dia-gram is shown in FIG. 9.

[0120] Each conference session 500 has a unique session identifier 507,a session description, a planned start and end time, an actual start andend time, comments, and a status (indicating if the session is booked,in progress, finished or cancelled).

[0121] Associated with a conference session is a conference whiteboardmade up of whiteboard pages 503, each of which may have a number ofversions 504 associated with it. A version 504 is uniquely identified bya version number 508. Each version has a line style 506.

[0122] Before a session begins the whiteboard is empty. As the sessionprogresses participants create new whiteboard pages, or make markups toexisting whiteboard pages. Each time a markup is made and submitted by aparticipant, a new version of that whiteboard page is created. Eachversion records the date and time the version was created, the user whomade the markups, and the markup content. In addition, each page versionis also linked to the version of the page that was marked up to createthis version. In this way a “tree” of versions is created for eachwhite-board page, recording all the markups made during the session.

[0123] The first whiteboard page version is version 0 515. If thisversion is modified, version 1 516 is created. If version 1 is modified,version 2 is created, and so on. This is called the ‘main branch’ of thetree. If, however, at some stage during the session a user modifies anolder version of the page, then the version numbering system branches.If a user later modifies version 1 then the tree branches and a newversion 1.1 517 is created. An example of this version numbering systemis shown in FIG. 10. In this way, the evolution of each page (andthereby the information exchange process of the conference) can byclearly reviewed at any stage of the session.

[0124] Conferencing User Interface

[0125] A user may obtain the Conference Session Menu 518 (not shown)from a variety of links including, for example:

[0126] a personalized bookmark kept by or available to the netpage user

[0127] the help menu 46 of the user's netpage printer

[0128] The Conference Session Menu user interface flow is shown in FIG.11.

[0129] Optionally, security can be added to the conference session byadding signature verification at key points. A signature can berequired, for example, on the session main page before a participant isallowed to send any markups.

[0130] Book a Conference Session

[0131] A user may book a new conference session by clicking <Book NewSession> on the Conference Session Menu 518. The Book A ConferenceSession page 519 is printed, shown in FIG. 16. The user who creates anew conference session is referred to as the ‘organizer’. The BookConference Session user interface flow is shown in FIG. 13.

[0132] To create a session the user specifies a short sessiondescription, the planned start date and time, and the planned end timefor the session.

[0133] The user also specifies the participants to be invited to thesession. One participant on the list may be flagged as the chairpersonfor the conference. If none is specified then, by default, the organizeris the chairperson. Participants may also be flagged as observers,observers having access types such that they may receive the whiteboardpages and all markups, but are not able to submit markups. The user mayclick the <Add Invitees> button 533 to obtain their contact list 523(not shown) and select the participants.

[0134] Finally, for information purposes, the user may also include somecomments relating to the session and its purpose.

[0135] When the details are complete the user clicks the <SendInvitation> button 534 to send the session invitation 524 to theparticipants via a netpage e-mail.

[0136] 8.3.2 Conference Session List

[0137] The user can print a list of their conference sessions byselecting the <List Sessions> button from the Conference Session Menu518. The Conference Session List 520 (not shown) shows all sessions inwhich the user is a participant. For each session the list shows thesession description, the user's access type for that session, the startdate and time for the session, and the session's status.

[0138] The Conference Session List user interface flow is shown in FIG.12. From the Conference Session List 520 the user can cancel a sessionby clicking the <Cancel> button, or click <Details> to see the filldetails of the session. If the user cancels a session a SessionCancelled Notice 521 (not shown) is sent to particpants. If the sessionhas not yet started, selecting <Details> prints a Conference SessionControl Page 522 (see below). The session action buttons <Start Session>and <End Session> are only printed if the user is the meetingchairperson.

[0139] Conference Session Control

[0140] A user may start a conference session by selecting <Details> forthe session from the Session List. If the session has not yet startedthen the Conference Session Control Page 522 is printed, shown in FIG.17. If the user is the session chairperson, all the session actionbuttons are printed.

[0141] The chairperson clicks <Start Session> 535 to begin theconference session, and a Session Main Page 526 is printed on thenetpage printer of each participant (FIG. 18). The conference sessionthen proceeds.

[0142] The chairperson clicks <End Session> 536 to end the currentconference session. After this no more page markups can be submitted bythe participants, and a Conference Session End Notice 532 is sent to allparticipants, shown in FIG. 20.

[0143] At any time during or after a conference session, the chairpersonmay view the history 525 of the whiteboard markups by clicking <ViewHistory> 537. The tree view of page versions is printed, with eachversion being shown as a thumbnail image together with its versionnumber and the name of the user who created it. The chairperson can thenprint a full size copy of the page version by clicking on it.

[0144] At any time during or after a markup session, a user may listmessages sent during the session. The message list 528 only showsmessages which were addressed to the user.

[0145] A Conference Session

[0146] The user interface flow for a conference session is shown in FIG.15.

[0147] As explained above, when the session is started by thechairperson a Session Main Page 526 is printed on the netpage printer ofeach participant. The Session Main Page, shown in FIG. 18, gives thesession details, the participants' names and access types.

[0148] If the user clicks the <New Page> 539 button on the Session MainPage, a blank whiteboard page (FIG. 19) is printed.

[0149] If the user clicks the <Print Palette> button on the Session MainPage, a palette 529 (not shown) of available line styles and colors isprinted. The user can select the line style and color to use whenwriting on the whiteboard page. The palette choice can be changed at anytime during the session. The current line style and color becomes aproperty of any captured digital ink.

[0150] During a session a participant can send a message 531 to theother participants, the message 531 printing directly onto the netpageprinter of the addressees. The messages are recorded against theconference session, and may be printed at any time during or after thesession, but messages can of course only be viewed by the messageaddressees. To send a message the user clicks the <Send Message> buttonand the Compose Message page 530 is printed, as shown in FIG. 21.

[0151] The whiteboard page 527 is shown in FIG. 19. The top of thewhiteboard page shows the session description, whiteboard page number,version number, the current date and time, and the name of theparticipant who made the latest markups.

[0152] The page version may be reprinted, discarding any markups made onthe page by the user, by

[0153] clicking the <Reprint> button.

[0154] The user can select content on another netpage using an availablenetpage selection mechanism (e.g. by ‘lassoing’ and selecting thedesired content from another netpage with the netpage pen). The user canthen paste the selected content to the whiteboard page by drawing a linefrom the <Paste> icon to the desired paste point on the page.

[0155] If at any stage the user clicks the <Update> button then theirmarked-up whiteboard page is stored as a new version and is sent to allsession participants.

[0156] If the user clicks the <New Page> button a blank whiteboard pageis printed on their printer, as shown in FIG. 19.

[0157] The user interface flow for a whiteboard page is shown in FIG.14, whilst the user interface flow for a conference session is shown inFIG. 15.

[0158] The tree view of page versions is printed on the back of eachwhiteboard page. If the entire tree does not fit on one page then asmuch as possible of the current branch is shown. Each version is shownas a thumbnail image, and beside the image is the version number and theupdate user name. The user can then print a full size copy of the pageversion by clicking on it.

[0159] As explained above, once the chairperson has ended a currentconference session, no more page markups can be submitted by theparticipants, and a Conference Session End Notice 532 (FIG. 20) is sentto all participants.

[0160] Whiteboard Sessions Using the Netpage System

[0161] Additionally, then, the netpage system can be employed in theprovision of a whiteboard facility for users in an educational ormeeting environment who are not geographically remote from one another.

[0162] Netpage Whiteboard Pad Application

[0163] An easel holding a pad of large-format (e.g. A1 or A0)pre-printed netpage paper acts as the whiteboard. Participants in ameeting can collaboratively mark up the physical pages, and at the endof the meeting can print out a reduced-size version of the whiteboardpages, such as an A4 version, conveniently bound and timestamped.Multiple colored netpage pens can be used during a session, and sinceeach pen can inform the system of its color and style, the reduced pagescan faithfully reproduce the colors used.

[0164] The whiteboard pad application records each page of a pre-printedwhiteboard pad as belonging to a particular pad, as shown in theWhiteboard Pad and Session class diagram in FIG. 22. When a user startsa new session 541, the application records the pad page 542 throughwhich the user starts the session 541 as being the first page of thesession. Any other pages belonging to the same pad 540 which are markedby a user using a netpage pen while the session is active are alsorecorded as belonging to the session.

[0165] Each pad page 543 contains pre-printed buttons for starting,ending and printing a session, as shown in FIG. 24. As shown in the userinterface flow in FIG. 23, when a user presses the <start session>button 547, the application prints a session start page 544 which givesthe start time of the session. When a session is active in relation to aparticular pad, any attempt to start a new session elicits an errorreport.

[0166] Alternatively or additionally, the application may be configuredsuch that, if the user marks a pad page when no session is active, a newsession is automatically started.

[0167] When the user presses the <end session> button 548, theapplication prints a session end page 545 which gives the start and endtimes of the session. When no session is active in relation to aparticular pad, any attempt to end a session elicits an error report.

[0168] Each pad page 543, as well as the session start page 544 and thesession end page 545, provides a <print session> button 549 which can beused at any time to print the pages of the corresponding session. Eachsession page 546 is printed with the session start and end dates andtimes, as well as a page number within the session, as shown in FIG. 25.

[0169] As an alternative to the above, the whiteboard pad comprisesessentially blank pages, preprinted with coded data for detection by thenetpage pen, and the pad is provided on a cardboard or other backingsheet. The backing sheet extends beyond the periphery of the pages, forexample below the bottom of the pages, to provide a projecting marginwhich includes a single set of session control buttons. These can beused to control any number of sessions held using the pad, although onlyone session at a time, of course. Because the whiteboard pad applicationknows which pad the control buttons belong to, it knows which pad, andtherefore which session, the control buttons operate on.

CONCLUSION

[0170] The present invention has been described with reference to apreferred embodiment and number of specific alternative embodiments.However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant fieldsthat a number of other embodiments, differing from those specificallydescribed, will also fall within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is notintended to be limited to the specific embodiments described in thepresent specification, including documents incorporated bycross-reference as appropriate. The scope of the invention is onlylimited by the attached claims.

1. A method of capturing, in a computer system, data relating to anote-taking session, the session consisting of handwritten annotationsmade by a user by way of a writing implement on a plurality of pages,said pages including coded data indicative of at least one referencepoint of the page, said writing implement including a sensor fordetecting said coded data, and the method including the steps of:receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement, anindication of the start of the note-taking session; receiving, in thecomputer system and via the writing implement, data indicative of saidhandwritten annotations made by said user on said plurality of pages;receiving, in the computer system and via the writing implement, anindication of the end of the note-taking session; and retaining aretrievable record of the received data for the note-taking session,wherein said writing implement is further adapted to store a writingimplement identifier which is adapted to distinguish the writingimplement from other writing implements of the same type.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further including the step of receiving, in the computersystem, the writing implement identifier.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the step of receiving, in the computer system, the writingimplement identifier comprises receiving the writing implementidentifier as an encrypted writing implement identifier.
 4. The methodof claim 3, wherein the encrypted writing implement identifier isencrypted using an encryption key.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein thestep of receiving, in the computer system, the writing implementidentifier comprises receiving the writing implement identifier via aradio frequency signal.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step ofreceiving, in the computer system, the writing implement identifiercomprises receiving the writing implement identifier via a relay deviceadapted to receive the radio frequency signal.
 7. The method of claim 5or 6, wherein the radio frequency signal is a Bluetooth signal.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the writing implement is adapted to store thewriting implement identifier in a non-volatile memory in the writingimplement.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the pagesincludes coded data indicative of an identity of the page, and saidwriting implement includes a sensor for detecting said coded data. 10.The method according to claim 1, wherein said indication of the start ofthe note-taking session is provided by the computer system receivingdata indicative of said handwritten annotations made by said user onsaid plurality of pages.
 11. The method according to claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of pages is associated with a control portion comprisingat least one control zone, the computer system receiving an indicationvia said writing implement that said user has designated one or morecontrol zones using the writing implement.
 12. The method according toclaim 11, wherein one or more of said pages includes said controlportion.
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said plurality ofpages are provided in the form of a notepad, the notepad includes saidcontrol portion on a part of the notepad other than on one of saidpages.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said at least onecontrol zone includes a zone associated with the start of thenote-taking session, and said indication of the start of the note-takingsession is provided by the computer system receiving an indication thatsaid user has designated said zone by way of said writing implement. 15.The method according to claim 11, wherein said at least one control zoneincludes a zone associated with the end of the note-taking session, andsaid indication of the end of the note-taking session is provided by thecomputer system receiving an indication that said user has designatedsaid zone by way of said writing implement.
 16. The method according toclaim 1, wherein said writing implement includes a writing nib, and saidwriting nib is associated with a sensor able to detect nib contact withone of said plurality of pages.
 17. The method according to claim 1including the step of using said retrievable record to selectively printthe data indicative of said handwritten annotations.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein said plurality of pages is associatedwith a control portion including a zone associated with the printing ofthe note-taking session, the computer system receiving an indication viasaid writing implement that said user has designated said zone using thewriting implement.
 19. The method according to claim 17, the data beingprintable on a plurality of pages corresponding to the plurality ofpages annotated in the note-taking session.
 20. A system for capturingdata relating to a note-taking session, the session consisting ofhandwritten annotations made by a user by way of a writing implement ona plurality of pages, said pages including coded data indicative of atleast one reference point of the page, said writing implement includinga sensor for detecting said coded data, and the system including: acomputer system for receiving indicating data via the writing implementoperated by the user, said indicating data regarding at least one of aposition and a movement of the writing implement relative to a page, thecomputer system including (a) a start/end-identifier for identifying,from the indicating data, an indication of the start of the note-takingsession and an indication of the end of the note-taking session; and (b)a memory for retaining a retrievable record of the received data for thenote-taking session, said retrievable record being indicative of saidhandwritten annotations made by said user on said plurality of pagesbetween the start and end of the note-taking session, wherein thewriting implement is further adapted to store a writing implementidentifier which is adapted to distinguish the writing implement fromother writing implements of the same type.
 21. The system according toclaim 20, including the plurality of pages.
 22. The system according toclaim 20, wherin said indicating data regarding at least one of theposition and the movement of the writing implement relative to a page isgenerated by the writing implement upon sensing at least some of thecoded data.
 23. The system according to claim 21, wherein each pageincludes coded data indicative of an identity of the page, and saidindicating data being indicative of both the position of the writingimplement relative to a page and the identity of the page.
 24. Thesystem of claim 20, wherein the computer system is adapted to receivethe writing implement identifier from the writing implement.
 25. Thesystem of claim 24, wherein the computer system is adapted to receivethe writing implement identifier as an encrypted writing implementidentifier.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the encrypted writingimplement identifier is encrypted using an encryption key.
 27. Thesystem of claim 24, wherein the computer system is adapted to receivethe writing implement identifier via a radio frequency signal.
 28. Thesystem of claim 27, wherein the computer system is adapted to receivethe writing implement identifier via a relay device adapted to receivethe radio frequency signal.
 29. The system of claim 27 or 28, whereinthe radio frequency signal is a Bluetooth signal.
 30. The systemaccording to claim 20 including a writing implement which includes asensor for detecting said coded data.
 31. The system of claim 30,wherein the writing implement is adapted to store the writing implementidentifier in a non-volatile memory in the writing implement.
 32. Thesystem according to claim 30, wherein said writing implement includes awriting nib, and said writing nib is associated with a sensor able todetect nib contact with one of said plurality of pages.
 33. The systemaccording to claim 20 including a plurality of pages, said plurality ofpages being associated with a control portion comprising at least onecontrol zone, the computer system receiving an indication via saidwriting implement that said user has designated one or more controlzones using the writing implement.
 34. The system according to claim 33,wherein one or more of said pages includes said control portion.
 35. Thesystem according to claim 33 including at least one notepadincorporating said plurality of pages, the at least one notepadincluding said control portion on a part of the notepad other than onone of said pages.
 36. The system according to claim 33, wherein said atleast one control zone includes a session start zone, said means foridentifying an indication of the start of the note-taking sessioncomprises means for receiving an indication that said user hasdesignated said zone by way of said writing implement.
 37. The systemaccording to claim 33, wherein said at least one control zone includes asession end zone, said means for identifying an indication of the end ofthe note-taking session comprises means for receiving an indication thatsaid user has designated said zone by way of said writing implement. 38.The system according to claim 33, wherein said at least one control zoneincludes a print zone, said system including means for receiving anindication that said user has designated said print zone by way of saidwriting implement and means, in response to said indication, to printfrom said retrievable record data indicative of said handwrittenannotations.
 39. The method of claim 8, wherein the writing implement isadapted to store the writing implement identifier in a read-only memoryin the writing implement.
 40. The system of claim 31, wherein thewriting implement is adapted to store the writing implement identifierin a read-only memory in the writing implement.